Background: On October 15th, 1962 a U-2 spy
plane takes photos over Cuba of Soviet SS-4 Nuclear Missiles. While the
missiles were of the medium-range kind, Cuba lay only 90 miles off the
coast of the United States, which in effect allowed these missiles to
reach most any city within the continental U.S. The next day, President
John F. Kennedy is informed of the placements. The past two months, the
Soviet Union had denied any intent to install offensive weapons in the
Western Hemisphere. Consequently, the President convenes a group of
twelve advisors to study and advise on the situation. The group became
known as the Executive Committee or EX-COMM.

Later in the week, Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign Minister
Andre Gromyko. Kennedy informs Gromyko that the U.S. will not tolerate
any offensive weapons in Cuba, but the Foreign Minister denies that any
missiles in Cuba exist. On the evening of October 18th, the President
meets with his EX-COMM group. Later after the meeting, he summarizes on
tape his recollections of the discussions.

On Sunday Kennedy is advised by the Air Force that the
missiles they are aware of could be destroyed but with upwards to
20,000 casualties. Kennedy, at the recommendation of some of the
EX-COMM members, decides to hold off on an air attack and go with a
naval blockade. The press finds out about the missiles and questions
Kennedy. The President asks the newsmen to hold off until he speaks to
the people of the U.S. to let them know about the situation.

"...a provocative
decision..."

By Monday evening, October 20th, the people of the United
States (and the rest of the world) hear of the crisis for the first
time when President Kennedy goes on radio and television to broadcast a
speech to America. All networks carry the speech.

In the speech, Kennedy tells listeners of the Soviet
build-up of missiles in Cuba and that the "purpose of these
bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability
against the Western Hemisphere."

Yet, the U.S. Government was told repeatedly by the U.S.S.R.
that weapons being installed in Cuba were designed "exclusively
for defensive purposes." But as these were nuclear capable
missiles, Kennedy tells the American public that "Nuclear weapons are
so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift that any
substantially increased possibilty of their use, or any sudden change
in their deployment, may well be regarded as a definite threat to
peace."

Kennedy continued
his speech, telling listeners that such a change in the
status quo is a provocative decision which cannot be accepted by the
United States.

"further action is
required"

Kennedy assures the people of this country that he is
beginning to take action. "We will not...risk the course of worldwide
nuclear war...but neither will we shrink from that risk..." The action
is announced
as a series of steps beginning with a strict quarantine of all
offensive military equipment shipped to Cuba. Specifically the steps
are:

Quarantine all ships carrying offensive military equipment
to Cuba. All such ships will be turned back all ships with such
equipment.

Continue and increase close surveilance of Cuba of the
military build-up. If the build-up continues, the Armed Forces will
take action.

Any nuclear weapon launched from Cuba will be considered an
attack by the Soviet Union on the United States requiring a full
retaliatory response.

The U.S. base at Guantanamo has been reinforced.

The U.S. is calling for an immediate meeting of the
Organization of Consultation of the Organization of American States to
invoke the necessary articles to support all necessary action.

An emergency meeting of the Security Counsel be invoked
without delay to take action against the Soviet threat.

A call to Chairman Khrushchev to halt this "reckless threat
to world peace."

"Greatest danger of
all..."

Kennedy ends
his speech to the American people by telling them that the
greatest danger would be to do nothing. With the end of the speech, the
world sat on the brink. How would the Soviets react? What would Cuba
do? In the United Kingdom, members of the government set up business in
the bunkers of Kent, which were built for emergency protection during
World War II.

After his speech, the President moves the military alert to
DEFCON 3, and Cuba begins to mobilize its troops.

"Cuba reacts first"

Through Radio
Havana, the world, via shortwave, listened to the official
reaction by Cuba. As a new Communist regime, their reaction was typical
referring to the U.S. actions as agression against them. The broadcast
was typical of the station with a duo hurling diatribes against the
United States.

Radio
Moscow waited until the next day to give their opinion of the
Crisis. As this was the height of the Cold War, the rhetoric was quite
harsh. In their official statement they indicated "the President is
trying to justify these acts of agression by arguments that ... a
threat to national security is emanating from Cuba." Later in their
broadcast they declared they were "duty-bound to give serious
warning to the United States government..." And finally in an appeal
to be heard by the whole world they called on the other governments to
"prevent the United States ... from unleashing a thermonuclear war..."